A few fun words that were new to me this week:
Jackboots, via wikipedia
page 18, The Raven Saint by M.L. Tyndall
“Dressed in a loose-fitting white buccaneer shirt, with a gold and purple sash strung about the waist of his black breeches, and heavy jackboots, he approached her, the silver hilt of his rapier gleaming in a ray of sun.”
baldric, n A belt, usually of ornamented leather, worn across the chest to support a sword or bugle
page 41, The Raven Saint by M.L. Tyndall
“Grace tore her gaze from his and stared at the gold and purple sash tied around his waist and the leather baldric cutting across his chest.”
thwart, n A structural crosspiece sometimes forming a seat for a rower in a boat
page 84, The Raven Saint by M.L. Tyndall
“Grace braced her oversized boots against the thwart in the wobbling boat and stared at Mr. Thorn’s outstretched hand.”
I know thwart as a verb, but as a noun? I didn’t recognize it.
faro, n A card game in which players bet on the order in which the cards will appear
page 102, The Raven Saint by M.L. Tyndall
“Even spending every night in his favorite taverns, enjoying his brandy and an occasional game of faro, had not lifted the burden weighing upon his humors.”
I think I should have known this one, but it didn’t come to mind right away.
More great words on my Words from my reading page.
Review of the book cited here:
The Raven Saint by M.L. Tyndall
What new words have you found lately?
8 comments
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February 3, 2010 at 8:37 am
Bookjourney
What a fun post. yesterday while reading Home Is Where The Wine Is the author mentioned several times “navel gaving”. I had to look it up…. I kept thinking why would you look at your belly button?
Turns out, navel gazing is like pondering…. LOL
February 3, 2010 at 10:50 am
Margot at Joyfully Retired
I’m not sure what it says about me and my reading but the only word I knew was faro. I’ve never played faro but I do love to play games. I like the jackboots too.
February 3, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Susan
Faro would be a good word for Scrabble games. Thanks for presenting these words. I didn’t know thwart as a noun either.
Mine
maywill make you hungry: http://suko95.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words-wednesday-whats-for.htmlFebruary 3, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Lisa notes...
I’ve never heard of any of these, especially jackboots. Interesting!
February 3, 2010 at 3:05 pm
bermudaonion
I’m like you – I knew thwart as a verb and had no idea it’s a noun as well.
February 3, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Lisa
Excellent words! They certainly give a feel for the time period of the book, I think.
My words are here.
February 7, 2010 at 7:27 am
Bookjourney
I love this post! I wish I could remember the words from my reading, but I was in the car and didnt write anything down. Liking the boots!
February 8, 2010 at 1:31 pm
handicapper
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and will be returning.
Being 62 gives me an advantage in the areas of older terminology and word usage — 2 words at least:
Jackbooted was a common term used in describing the Nazis prior to and during WWII, since no self-respecting member of the SS or other military elite would be without his jackboots.
Faro was a very popular gambling card-game in the Old West, which you will often see played in saloons in the older western movies.
My only contact with Baldric had been it’s somewhat popular use as a male name in jolly old England.
Thwart as a noun was also new… however, since it stops (thwarts) the collapse of the boat sides it makes perfectly good sense!
Keep up the good work!